630
FXUS65 KVEF 041252
AFDVEF
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
452 AM PST SUN JAN 4 2026
KEY MESSAGES
* SNOW WILL RETURN TO AREA MOUNTAINS TODAY AND TONIGHT WITH MODERATE
TO MAJOR IMPACTS IN THE SIERRA AND MINOR IMPACTS IN THE SPRING
MOUNTAINS.
* UNSETTLED WEATHER PERSISTS THROUGH THE WEEK WITH POTENTIAL FOR
LIGHT RAIN AND COOLER TEMPERATURES.
DISCUSSION
TODAY THROUGH NEXT SATURDAY.
THE REGION IS CURRENTLY IN A LULL BETWEEN TWO WAVES OF MOISTURE.
YESTERDAY'S WAVE IS NOW TRACKING EAST THROUGH ARIZONA, WHILE THE
NEXT ONE IS PUSHING THROUGH CENTRAL CALIFORNIA. SEVEN TO TEN INCHES
OF SNOW HAVE FALLEN OVER THE SIERRA OVER 9500 FEET IN ELEVATION SO
FAR. SNOWFALL WILL PICK UP ONCE AGAIN THROUGH TODAY AS THE NEXT WAVE
OF MOISTURE MOVES IN. THE WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR
THE SIERRA THROUGH EARLY TOMORROW MORNING. ANOTHER AREA OF CONCERN
IS THE SPRING MOUNTAINS. SOUTHWESTERLY MOISTURE TRAJECTORY FAVORS
UPSLOPE FLOW OVER THE MOUNTAIN RANGE, PARTICULARLY IN THE EVENING
AND OVERNIGHT. WITH A 50 PERCENT PROBABILITY OF OVER 5 INCHES OF
SNOW ABOVE 7000 FEET AND MINOR WINTER WEATHER IMPACTS, DECIDED TO
ISSUE A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR TONIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING IN
THE SPRING MOUNTAINS. PRECIPITATION TOTALS IN THE VALLEYS SHOULD BE
LIGHT.
PERSISTENT TROUGHING OFF THE WEST COAST WILL MAINTAIN ABOVE NORMAL
MOISTURE THROUGH MIDWEEK. EMBEDDED ENERGY MAY BRING OCCASIONAL LIGHT
PRECIPITATION. HOWEVER, GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO BACK OFF ON SPATIAL
EXTENT AND PRECIPITATION TOTALS, PROBABLY BECAUSE THE LOW IS DIGGING
FURTHER SOUTH OFF THE COAST OF MEXICO THAN PREVIOUSLY INDICATED. THE
INCOMING TROUGH THAT WAS EXPECTED TO BRING COLDER AIR AND WIND
DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE WEEK ALSO APPEARS LESS IMPRESSIVE THAN
BEFORE, LIKELY COMING ACROSS AS A SHALLOW OPEN WAVE. NONETHELESS, IT
SHOULD STILL BE ABLE TO KNOCK TEMPERATURES DOWN A FEW DEGREES AND
BRING DRIER AIR INTO THE AREA BY THE END OF THE WEEK.
AVIATION...FOR HARRY REID...FOR THE 12Z FORECAST PACKAGE
GUSTY
SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON, WITH GUST SPEEDS AROUND
20 KTS. GUSTS FALL OFF AFTER SUNSET, WITH BREEZY (8-10 KTS)
SOUTHWEST WINDS CONTINUING OVERNIGHT. SCT-BKN BETWEEN 3 AND 5 KFT
WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE TAF PERIOD, WITH DECREASING CHANCES OF
PRECIPITATION. BEST CHANCES (PROB30) FOR LIGHT SHOWERS OVER THE
TERMINAL EXIST BETWEEN 07 AND 10Z TONIGHT.
FOR THE REST OF SOUTHERN NEVADA, NORTHWESTERN ARIZONA AND
SOUTHEASTERN CALIFORNIA...FOR THE 12Z FORECAST PACKAGE...PATCHY FOG
THIS MORNING WILL OCCASIONALLY REDUCE VISIBILITIES BELOW 6SM AT AREA
TERMINALS THROUGH SUNRISE. GUSTY SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS BETWEEN 20 AND
25 KTS EXPECTED AT LAS VEGAS VALLEY TERMINALS THIS AFTERNOON...
GUSTY SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS AROUND 20 KTS AT KBIH... GUSTY WEST WINDS
BETWEEN 25 AND 30 KTS AT KDAG. SCT-BKN BETWEEN 3 AND 5 KFT WILL
CONTINUE THROUGH THE TAF PERIOD, WITH DECREASING CHANCES OF
PRECIPITATION. BEST CHANCES (PROB30) FOR LIGHT SHOWERS OVER THE LAS
VEGAS VALLEY TERMINALS EXIST BETWEEN 07 AND 10Z TONIGHT... OVER KDAG
BETWEEN 02 AND 07Z.
SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT
SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT
ANY SIGNIFICANT WEATHER OR IMPACTS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING
PROCEDURES.
DISCUSSION...MELTZER
AVIATION...SOULAT
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